OCR A-Level English Literature
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Course overview
The OCR A-Level English Literature specification covers 49 study areas with 863 learning objectives (H472). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.
- 49 study areas
- 863 learning objectives
Course H472Official specification (opens in a new tab)
- 795
- practice questions
- 287
- teaching notes
- 49
- topics
- 1
- explainer videos
- 2
- audio lessons
Your exams
- Drama and poetry pre-1900Thursday, 13 May 2027, AM
- Comparative and contextual studyThursday, 20 May 2027, AM
Always confirm dates and times with your exam centre.
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drama and poetry pre-1900 | 150 min | 60 | 40% |
| Comparative and contextual study | 150 min | 60 | 40% |
| Literature post-1900 | - | 40 | 20% |
Explore your topics
49 study areas
About the specification4 topics
- 2a. Overview of A Level in English Literature (H472)6 specification points covering Component 01: Shakespeare; Drama and poetry pre-1900, Drama and poetry pre-1900 (01)* Written paper 60 marks Closed text 2…18 objectives
- 2b. Content of A Level in English Literature (H472)11 specification points covering The OCR A Level in English Literature qualification will build on the knowledge, understanding and skills established at…33 objectives
- 3b. Assessment objectives (AO)5 specification points covering Articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and…15 objectives
- 3m. Synoptic assessment5 specification points covering Synoptic learning is a key feature of all OCR A Level in English Literature components.15 objectives
Drama and poetry pre-19009 study areas
Drama and poetry pre-1900 overview
2c. Content of Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01)8 specification points covering Learners are required to study one play by Shakespeare which will be assessed in Section 1 of this component., In addition,…24 objectives- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 1 set texts: Shakespeare12 specification points covering The focus of Section 1 is the study of one Shakespeare play., Learners will answer one question worth 30 marks on the play…36 objectives
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 1 set texts: Shakespeare - The set texts for examination until 2026 are:6 specification points covering Coriolanus, Hamlet, Measure for Measure and related ideas.18 objectives
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 1 set texts: Shakespeare - The set texts for first teaching from 2025 and examination from 2027 are:6 specification points covering Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and related ideas.18 objectives
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 2 set texts: Drama and poetry pre-190012 specification points covering The focus of Section 2 is the study of one drama text and one poetry text., There will be a choice of six questions, each…36 objectives
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 2 set texts: Drama and poetry pre-1900 - Learners study one pre-1900 drama text:5 specification points covering Christopher Marlowe: Edward II, John Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Oliver Goldsmith: She Stoops to Conquer and related ideas.15 objectives
- Drama and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01) - Section 2 set texts: Drama and poetry pre-1900 - Learners study one pre-1900 poetry text:5 specification points covering Geoffrey Chaucer: The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale, John Milton: Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10, Samuel Taylor Coleridge:…15 objectives
- 5c. Component 01 – Drama and poetry pre-1900 selected poems - Christina Rossetti – Selected Poems15 specification points covering Song: When I am dead, my dearest, Remember, From the Antique (‘It’s a weary life, it is, she said’) and related ideas.45 objectives
- 5c. Component 01 – Drama and poetry pre-1900 selected poems - Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Selected Poems15 specification points covering The Aeolian Harp, Reflections on Having Left a Place of Retirement, This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison and related ideas.45 objectives
Comparative and contextual study6 topics
Comparative and contextual study overview
2c. Content of Comparative and contextual study (Component 02)6 specification points covering Learners choose one topic and study at least two whole texts in their chosen topic area, at least one of which must be from…18 objectives- Comparative and contextual study (Component 02) - Topics: Close reading13 specification points covering American Literature 1880–1940, The Gothic, Dystopia and related ideas.41 objectives
- Comparative and contextual study (Component 02) - Topics and set texts: Comparative essay14 specification points covering Learners study two whole texts, at least one must be from the list below:, Learners are required to explore contrasts,…42 objectives
- 5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set textsThis statement outlines the text selection rules for the comparative and contextual study component.3 objectives
American Literature 1880–1940
5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Core set texts for Comparative and contextual study: American Literature 1880–19402 specification points covering F Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby, John Steinbeck – The Grapes of Wrath.6 objectives- 5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Suggested set texts for Comparative and contextual study: American Literature 1880–19409 specification points covering Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady, Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Theodore Dreiser: Sister Carrie and related…27 objectives
The Gothic
5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Core set texts for Comparative and contextual study: The Gothic2 specification points covering Angela Carter – The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, Bram Stoker – Dracula.6 objectives- 5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Suggested set texts for Comparative and contextual study: The Gothic9 specification points covering William Beckford: Vathek, Ann Radcliffe: The Italian, Mary Shelley: Frankenstein and related ideas.27 objectives
Dystopia
5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Core set texts for Comparative and contextual study: Dystopia2 specification points covering Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale, George Orwell – Nineteen Eighty-Four.6 objectives- 5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Suggested set texts for Comparative and contextual study: Dystopia9 specification points covering H G Wells: The Time Machine, Aldous Huxley: Brave New World, Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 and related ideas.27 objectives
Women in Literature
5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Core set texts for Comparative and contextual study: Women in Literature2 specification points covering Jane Austen – Sense and Sensibility, Virginia Woolf – Mrs Dalloway.6 objectives- 5d. Component 02 – Comparative and contextual study core and suggested set texts - Suggested set texts for Comparative and contextual study: Women in Literature9 specification points covering Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre, George Eliot: The Mill on the Floss, Thomas Hardy: Tess of the D’Urbervilles and related ideas.27 objectives
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Literature post-19002 topics
Non-exam assessment tasks and requirements
2d. Content of non-exam assessment in A Level in English Literature (Component 03)13 specification points covering an appreciation of how writers shape meanings in texts through use of language, imagery, form and structure, an…39 objectives- Literature post-1900 (Component 03) - Literary texts requirements:9 specification points covering Learners are required to study three literary texts., The three texts must include one prose text, one poetry text and one…27 objectives
- Literature post-1900 (Component 03) - Task 1: Close reading OR Re-creative writing with commentary5 specification points covering Learners are required to demonstrate close reading skills., Learners are required to identify and consider how attitudes and…15 objectives
- Literature post-1900 (Component 03) - Task 1: Close readingThis task requires students to perform a highly detailed, close critical analysis of a specific extract.3 objectives
- Literature post-1900 (Component 03) - Task 1: Re-creative writing with commentaryThis task requires you to produce an original piece of re-creative writing inspired by a specific passage or poem from your chosen post-1900 text,…3 objectives
- Literature post-1900 (Component 03) - Task 2: Comparative essay11 specification points covering For Task 2, learners are required to submit an essay which explores contrasts and comparisons between two texts, informed…33 objectives
Suggested texts and themes
5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts2 specification points covering Centres and learners are free to choose their own texts but are reminded that all texts must have been first published or…6 objectives- 5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts - WAR THROUGH TIME3 specification points covering Selected Poems Wilfred Owen 1920 Poetry, Agamemnon Steven Berkoff 1977 Drama, Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Adichie 2006…9 objectives
- 5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts - RELIGION IN LITERATURE3 specification points covering Selected Poems Elizabeth Jennings 1985 Poetry, Racing Demon David Hare 1990 Drama, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel…9 objectives
- 5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts - DISILLUSION IN AMERICA3 specification points covering Selected Poems E E Cummings 1958 Poetry, Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller 1949 Drama, Netherland Joseph O’Neill 2008 Prose.9 objectives
- 5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts - YOUTH IN TIME3 specification points covering Book of Matches Simon Armitage 1993 Poetry, The History Boys Alan Bennett 2004 Drama, Waterland Graham Swift 1983 Prose.9 objectives
- 5e. Literature post-1900 (Non-exam assessment component) suggested texts - REWORKING THE CLASSICS3 specification points covering Beowulf Seamus Heaney 1999 Poetry, Antigone Owen McCafferty 2008 Drama, Boating for Beginners Jeanette Winterson 1985 Prose.9 objectives
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About this course
About OCR A-Level English Literature
The OCR A-Level English Literature course invites students to explore a diverse range of literary texts, spanning centuries and genres, while developing sophisticated analytical and critical skills. Central to this specification is the exploration of literary traditions, contexts, and critical interpretations, encouraging students to engage deeply with both established classics and more modern works. Through close reading and comparative analysis, learners discover how texts reflect and shape the societies from which they emerge, cultivating a lifelong appreciation for literature.
Structured into three components, the course balances examined assessments with a non-examined element, allowing for both rigorous testing of knowledge and independent research. Component 1 focuses on drama and poetry pre-1900, grounding students in foundational works such as Shakespeare alongside other key writers. Component 2 introduces a comparative and contextual study through topic-based options like 'American Literature 1880–1940' or 'The Gothic', requiring students to make connections across prose and drama or poetry. Component 3, the non-exam assessment, offers flexibility to study post-1900 texts, promoting personal interest and academic autonomy.
Key themes running throughout the course include the construction of genre, the role of the reader, the influence of historical and cultural contexts, and the evolution of literary form. Students are expected to engage with multiple critical viewpoints and develop their own interpretations, supported by textual evidence. The specification therefore not only prepares students for university-level study in English but also fosters transferable skills in communication, analysis, and argumentation.
Assessment Structure
The qualification is assessed through two written examinations and one non-exam assessment. Component 1 (Drama and poetry pre-1900) is a 2 hour 30 minute closed-text exam worth 60 marks, accounting for 40% of the A-Level. Component 2 (Comparative and contextual study) is also a 2 hour 30 minute closed-text exam, worth 60 marks and contributing another 40%. Component 3 (Literature post-1900) is a non-exam assessment (coursework) marked by the centre and moderated by OCR, worth 40 marks (20% of the total). Overall, the A-Level is out of 160 marks.
Why Choose OCR?
- OCR’s A-Level English Literature offers a distinctive combination of breadth and depth, with a strong emphasis on pre-1900 texts that provides a solid grounding in literary tradition rarely found in similar measure on other boards. This makes it an excellent choice for students aiming to study English at top universities, where knowledge of the canon is highly valued.
- The comparative and contextual study component is uniquely flexible, allowing students to select from topic areas like 'The Gothic' or 'Dystopia', which can ignite genuine passion and deeper engagement. This thematic approach, rather than a rigid set of prescribed texts, empowers students and teachers to tailor the course to their interests.
- The non-exam assessment (coursework) is worth only 20%, reducing the pressure of extended project work compared to some other boards, yet still providing an opportunity for independent research and personal literary exploration. This balanced structure suits students who perform well in examinations but also want to develop extended writing skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the coursework involve in OCR A-Level English Literature?
The coursework component (Component 3: Literature post-1900) requires you to produce two tasks: a comparative essay of around 1500 words on at least two texts linked by theme, and a close analysis or re-creative piece with commentary (about 1000 words) on a single text. You can choose texts from any genre published after 1900, with guidance from your teacher, and the work is internally assessed and externally moderated. This component encourages independent research and allows you to develop your own critical voice.
How do I choose my texts for the OCR English Literature A-Level?
For the examined components, texts are selected by your teacher from OCR's prescribed lists. Component 1 includes a Shakespeare play and a paired drama and poetry text from a set list. For Component 2, you’ll study one chosen topic area (e.g., The Gothic), from which your centre picks one prose and one drama or poetry text. For the coursework component, you have more freedom to select post-1900 texts in consultation with your teacher, ensuring they meet the specification requirements.
Is OCR English Literature A-Level harder than other exam boards?
Perceptions of difficulty vary, but OCR’s A-Level is rigorous due to its closed-text examinations and heavy weighting on pre-1900 material. However, many students thrive on the clear structure and the opportunity to specialise in a topic area that genuinely interests them. The coursework element is relatively modest at 20%, which can reduce stress for those who prefer timed exams. Ultimately, it is comparable to other boards in standard, but its focus on critical analysis and independent thinking provides excellent preparation for university.
Can I use any text for the comparative and contextual study?
No, for Component 2 you must study the set topic area chosen by your school (such as 'American Literature 1880–1940' or 'The Immigrant Experience'), and within that topic, your teacher will select one core prose text and one drama or poetry text from OCR's prescribed lists. The exam paper will include an unseen extract related to the topic, but the texts you study in detail are predetermined. This ensures a coherent and focused comparative study.
How important is the context of texts in the OCR English Literature A-Level?
Context is central to all components. In Component 1, you are expected to demonstrate understanding of the literary and historical context of pre-1900 texts. Component 2 explicitly frames the study through its chosen topic (e.g., the Gothic as a cultural phenomenon), requiring you to relate texts to their social and literary contexts. Even in coursework, you will explore how post-1900 texts are shaped by modern contexts. Examiners look for context to be integrated into your analysis, rather than treated as a separate 'bolt-on'.
Assessment and exam guidance
Assessment Objectives
AO1
20%Articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression.
AO2
30%Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts.
AO3
25%Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received.
AO4
12.5%Explore connections across literary texts.
AO5
12.5%Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations.
Exam Structure
OCR A-Level (H472)
Drama and poetry pre-1900
2h 30m
Duration
60
Marks
40%
Weighting
Comparative and contextual study
2h 30m
Duration
60
Marks
40%
Weighting
Literature post-1900
Not stated
Duration
40
Marks
20%
Weighting
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Treating the Shakespeare play as a prose text rather than a piece of drama; correction: always analyse stagecraft, dramatic irony, and audience reception.
- •Writing isolated essays for the comparative section; correction: integrate the analysis of the pre-1900 drama and poetry texts, drawing explicit thematic or stylistic links.
- •Bolting on historical context without linking it to the text; correction: use contextual knowledge specifically to illuminate the meaning of the quotations being analysed.
- •Error: Treating the Shakespeare section as a single 30-mark essay. Correction: Divide your focus between the 15-mark extract analysis and the 15-mark broader essay.
- •Error: Spending too much time on the first section and rushing the comparative essay. Correction: Strictly divide the 150 minutes, allowing approximately 75 minutes for Section 1 and 75 minutes for Section 2.
- •Error: Misquoting or paraphrasing vaguely due to the closed text format. Correction: Memorise short, precise, and highly analytical quotations that are easy to recall accurately.
- •Error: Ignoring the unseen extract's specific literary techniques and merely summarising its plot. Correction: Focus on close reading, analysing how specific word choices and structural devices shape the reader's understanding.
- •Error: Bolting on historical facts without linking them to the texts. Correction: Integrate contextual information seamlessly, explaining how it directly influences the themes and characters in the comparative study.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Memorise short, versatile quotations from your Shakespeare text and comparative texts, as this is a closed text examination.
- •Structure comparative essays thematically rather than text-by-text to ensure continuous, integrated comparison.
- •Engage with specific critical viewpoints or theoretical lenses to elevate your Shakespeare analysis.
- •Practise writing the two-part Shakespeare response (extract and essay) under timed, closed-book conditions to build stamina for the 150-minute exam.
- •Create quotation banks grouped by theme rather than chronologically to aid recall during the closed text assessment.
- •Practise close reading on a variety of unseen extracts from your topic area to build confidence in identifying literary devices.
- •Develop a strong understanding of the historical, social, and cultural contexts relevant to your chosen topic area.
- •Use comparative connectives (e.g., 'similarly', 'in contrast') to ensure your essay remains focused on the relationship between the texts.
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